180 THE GARDENER. [April 



those of a more robust habit. The ground having been previously 

 broken up, a steel fork accomplishes the digging with ease at this sea- 

 son of the year. I use a spade to strike out the drills into which the 

 Potatoes are laid. These are of such a depth as to allow about 4 

 inches of soil to lie upon the tubers when planted — quite enough under 

 any circumstances, as it does not produce that weakening of the shoots 

 that so commonly results from deep planting. Each kind when 

 planted is carefully marked with a numbered label, and as soon as the 

 work is over, each row is similarly numbered in a book, and the name 

 of the sort it contains placed against it. Here are made all the notes 

 necessary at the various stages of growth, and the final results entered 

 as well ; thus the displacement of a label is guarded against, and actu- 

 ally becomes a matter of little moment. When the haulm has reached 

 the height of about 6 inches, I go carefully through each row and 

 pick out all the weak shoots, leaving only about three of the strongest. 

 By this process the number of tubers is reduced, but the size of the 

 remainder is increased. Then comes the hoe, and gives the soil a 

 good surface-stirring; and about a week afterwards, a moderate earth- 

 ing-up is given, after which, beyond noting the growing appearances 

 and instituting comparisons, there is little else to be done until the 

 arrival of that important time when the fork is once more brought 

 into requisition, and the generous earth is made to yield up its trea- 

 sures to reward the labours of the patient, industrious, and careful 

 planter. 



The storing of Seed-Potatoes during the winter is a matter of no 

 small moment ; indeed, much of the success of a trial depends upon 

 the manner in which the tubers have been prepared for it. A well- 

 aired shed, or a building specially devoted to this purpose, fitted with 

 shelves in sufficient quantity to take the whole of the stock of seed, is 

 the best place to keep them in. Internal dryness, and plenty of air 

 when frost does not prevail, are essential ; but even a few degrees of 

 the latter will be productive of no injury where all damp is excluded. 

 In such a Potato-house the work of thoroughly examining its contents 

 at any time is a matter of ease ; and in no case will the tubers become 

 so much sprouted as to be productive of injury. Their removal to 

 the garden should be accomplished in flat boxes, into which they can 

 be laid without damaging the young growth, and from these they can 

 be taken for planting with great ease. To those who are limited in 

 accommodation for storage space, a number of herring-boxes will prove 

 of great service, as these are always sufficiently open at the bottom to 

 allow the air to pass up through the Potatoes placed in them. These 

 boxes can be stacked one upon the other in any dry shed or outhouse, 

 and may be frequently removed, so as to have the bottom ones occa- 



